Post by Seek on Apr 14, 2013 3:31:53 GMT 10
Title: Verdant III
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 598 words.
Pairing: Alanna/Jonathan
Round/Fight: 1A
Summary: AU. Alanna leaves to find the Green Knight. Jon isn't so happy about this.
Warnings: Allusion to beheading.
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Alanna hated parties; so Jon naturally had to call for a feast in her honour, the day before she was due to leave. Alanna made a quick decision as she slipped away from the party. She'd packed all her belongings, and so she simply pulled on her gold-washed mail, checked her sword and shield to make sure they were in good condition, and picked up the axe which had been taken down from the hall, before she left.
There was fear, settling like a leaden weight in the pit of her stomach. She knew no magic that could save her from this fate. She glanced around her room for what seemed like it would be the last time. Goodbye, she thought. She'd said what had to be said to her friends, and in any case, she hated long farewells.
He was there, waiting for her at the stables. He'd saddled Moonlight, even.
Alanna blew out a long, impatient breath. "Jon," she said, "What do you think you're doing?"
"Seeing you off," he said. Alanna fastened her saddlebags on Moonlight. Jon had changed out of his finery into worn clothing, the sort he wore to the practice courts. Or to stables. He offered Moonlight an apple from his pocket; the mare snorted, and then bit into it. "Are you sure you won't reconsider?" Jon asked.
It had to be asked.
Alanna shook her head regretfully. "No," she said. The Bazhir spoke often about leaving things to the Balance; she'd never liked that idea, but somehow it felt right, now. There was no sense in worrying about the Green Knight now. The Code of Chivalry was clear. She'd given her word, she'd struck the fatal--or not-so-fatal--blow, and now she had to seek him out so he could reciprocate. All else didn't matter.
Jon nodded. He understood, of course. He just sought to give her a way out, even though he had to know she wasn't going to take it.
Quietly, she added, "You know what the conservatives have been saying?"
He nodded again. Of course he had to know. She'd been at the centre of many a debate. Conservatives had accused her of using her Gift to win her shield, of sleeping with Jon to earn it, of so many things, and all of them meant one thing: she hadn't earned her shield. She wasn't worthy of being a knight of Tortall. "You shouldn't care about what they're saying," he said, quietly. "They'll always talk. It doesn't make them right."
"But I also became a knight because I dreamed..." she hesitated, and then continued. "I dreamed of riding off into the sunset, and having adventures. I can't say I'm sorry because I'm riding off on an adventure. A strange one, but an adventure nonetheless."
Jon shuddered. "Only you would say that," he murmured, and she choked back a laugh.
"Have you appointed an acting-King's Champion?"
"Sacherell."
Alanna nodded in approval. "He's good."
"I know. That's why I picked him. Not as good as you are, though. You're the best." He caught her hand. "Promise me you'll come back in one piece. I don't think Sacherell wants to become the next King's Champion, and he'll probably hunt you down and drag you back and make you do it all over again."
She grinned. "I will. Take care, Jon. Don't let that crown get too small for your head." She mounted Moonlight in a swift, fluid motion, and was riding even as Jon spluttered and tried to come up with a response. Head held high, Alanna did not look back.
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 598 words.
Pairing: Alanna/Jonathan
Round/Fight: 1A
Summary: AU. Alanna leaves to find the Green Knight. Jon isn't so happy about this.
Warnings: Allusion to beheading.
-
Alanna hated parties; so Jon naturally had to call for a feast in her honour, the day before she was due to leave. Alanna made a quick decision as she slipped away from the party. She'd packed all her belongings, and so she simply pulled on her gold-washed mail, checked her sword and shield to make sure they were in good condition, and picked up the axe which had been taken down from the hall, before she left.
There was fear, settling like a leaden weight in the pit of her stomach. She knew no magic that could save her from this fate. She glanced around her room for what seemed like it would be the last time. Goodbye, she thought. She'd said what had to be said to her friends, and in any case, she hated long farewells.
He was there, waiting for her at the stables. He'd saddled Moonlight, even.
Alanna blew out a long, impatient breath. "Jon," she said, "What do you think you're doing?"
"Seeing you off," he said. Alanna fastened her saddlebags on Moonlight. Jon had changed out of his finery into worn clothing, the sort he wore to the practice courts. Or to stables. He offered Moonlight an apple from his pocket; the mare snorted, and then bit into it. "Are you sure you won't reconsider?" Jon asked.
It had to be asked.
Alanna shook her head regretfully. "No," she said. The Bazhir spoke often about leaving things to the Balance; she'd never liked that idea, but somehow it felt right, now. There was no sense in worrying about the Green Knight now. The Code of Chivalry was clear. She'd given her word, she'd struck the fatal--or not-so-fatal--blow, and now she had to seek him out so he could reciprocate. All else didn't matter.
Jon nodded. He understood, of course. He just sought to give her a way out, even though he had to know she wasn't going to take it.
Quietly, she added, "You know what the conservatives have been saying?"
He nodded again. Of course he had to know. She'd been at the centre of many a debate. Conservatives had accused her of using her Gift to win her shield, of sleeping with Jon to earn it, of so many things, and all of them meant one thing: she hadn't earned her shield. She wasn't worthy of being a knight of Tortall. "You shouldn't care about what they're saying," he said, quietly. "They'll always talk. It doesn't make them right."
"But I also became a knight because I dreamed..." she hesitated, and then continued. "I dreamed of riding off into the sunset, and having adventures. I can't say I'm sorry because I'm riding off on an adventure. A strange one, but an adventure nonetheless."
Jon shuddered. "Only you would say that," he murmured, and she choked back a laugh.
"Have you appointed an acting-King's Champion?"
"Sacherell."
Alanna nodded in approval. "He's good."
"I know. That's why I picked him. Not as good as you are, though. You're the best." He caught her hand. "Promise me you'll come back in one piece. I don't think Sacherell wants to become the next King's Champion, and he'll probably hunt you down and drag you back and make you do it all over again."
She grinned. "I will. Take care, Jon. Don't let that crown get too small for your head." She mounted Moonlight in a swift, fluid motion, and was riding even as Jon spluttered and tried to come up with a response. Head held high, Alanna did not look back.